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Literary
April 30, 1852
Southern Christian Advocate
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Little Mary learns basic arithmetic from her father, successfully completing her first addition sum on a slate. She quickly progresses and begins teaching her younger brother, exemplifying kindness and diligence in a family setting.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
CHILDREN.
LITTLE MARY'S FIRST SUM.
One day little Mary read a lesson to her father very well, and she tried to spell every word that was pronounced to her. When she had done, he said to her, "Now I will teach you how to cipher, if you wish to learn."
She was glad to hear that, though she did not know what it was. But it gave her great pleasure to learn all her father taught her.
He saw her look up and smile. Then she said, "What do you mean by a sum?"
"Why," replied her father, "it is what your brother did yesterday. He says two and one are three, and one from five leaves four, and so on."
"O, do teach me!" said Mary.
Then her father took down a small slate, and made a figure one, so, 1; then a figure 2; then a 3; and so on, to 9. Then he pointed at the figure one, and asked, "What is that?"
"It is one," said Mary.
In this way he asked her all of the figures, one by one, and Mary soon learned them.
Then her father held up two of his fingers, and asked, "How many are there up?"
"Two," she answered.
"Well, then," said he, "write two on your slate."
She did so, making a figure like this, 2.
Then he held up one finger, and told her to write 1 under the 2, and she did so.
And he added. "Now draw a line under it."
When she had drawn it, he said, "Two and one are how many?"
"Three," she replied.
"Well, now write 3 under the line," said her father.
When she had done this, he told her that was a sum in addition, she had been adding numbers together. This was Mary's first sum. The next day she learned more, and in a few weeks she knew how to do a great many sums.
Then she began to teach her little brother how to make figures, and do sums. She was a good little girl, and always kind to her brothers and sisters.
LITTLE MARY'S FIRST SUM.
One day little Mary read a lesson to her father very well, and she tried to spell every word that was pronounced to her. When she had done, he said to her, "Now I will teach you how to cipher, if you wish to learn."
She was glad to hear that, though she did not know what it was. But it gave her great pleasure to learn all her father taught her.
He saw her look up and smile. Then she said, "What do you mean by a sum?"
"Why," replied her father, "it is what your brother did yesterday. He says two and one are three, and one from five leaves four, and so on."
"O, do teach me!" said Mary.
Then her father took down a small slate, and made a figure one, so, 1; then a figure 2; then a 3; and so on, to 9. Then he pointed at the figure one, and asked, "What is that?"
"It is one," said Mary.
In this way he asked her all of the figures, one by one, and Mary soon learned them.
Then her father held up two of his fingers, and asked, "How many are there up?"
"Two," she answered.
"Well, then," said he, "write two on your slate."
She did so, making a figure like this, 2.
Then he held up one finger, and told her to write 1 under the 2, and she did so.
And he added. "Now draw a line under it."
When she had drawn it, he said, "Two and one are how many?"
"Three," she replied.
"Well, now write 3 under the line," said her father.
When she had done this, he told her that was a sum in addition, she had been adding numbers together. This was Mary's first sum. The next day she learned more, and in a few weeks she knew how to do a great many sums.
Then she began to teach her little brother how to make figures, and do sums. She was a good little girl, and always kind to her brothers and sisters.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Children Story
Learning Arithmetic
Family Education
Moral Tale
Addition Sum
Literary Details
Title
Little Mary's First Sum.
Key Lines
"Now I Will Teach You How To Cipher, If You Wish To Learn."
"Two And One Are How Many?" "Three," She Replied.
This Was Mary's First Sum.
She Was A Good Little Girl, And Always Kind To Her Brothers And Sisters.